Scraper or grader



April 11, 1950 H. H. WASHBOND 2,503,929

SCRAPER 0R GRADER Filed April 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 it [7 VET? far //4eer l9. Mews/mono Fi /g5.

April 11, 1950 H. H. WASHBOND 2,503,929

SCRAPER 0R GRADER Filed April 21, 1945 I 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 [UL E27 fur flfle er M I/VASHEOND way/ mm fi s,

Apnl 11, 1950 H. H. WASHBOND 2,503,929

SCRAPER 0R GRADER Filed April 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 f/neer b. Msuaoavo Patented Apr. 11, 1950 scnarsn on omen Harry B. Washbond, Springfield, 11]., assignmto The Baker Manufacturing Company, Springfield, Ill,

a corporation of Illinois Application April 21, 1945, Serial No. 589,592 13 Claims. (C1. 37144) This invention relates to implement blade-- equipped machines such as bulldozers, angledozers, snowplows and the like.

Particularly the invention relates to implement blade-equipped tractors wherein push beams for the blade are adjustably mounted on the tractor to tilt or cock the blade relative to the tractor axle and wherein a winch-operated cable on the tractor is trained around sheaves that are so arranged as to guide the cable for exerting a direct pull to raise and lower the blade relative to the tractor.

The invention will be hereinafter specifically described as embodied in an angledozer, but it should be understood that the principles of this invention are generally applicable to other types of material-handling apparatus, and especially implement blade-equipped tractors.

It is frequently desirable to tilt or cock the blade of an angledozer relative to the axle of the tractor, so that a transversely inclined scraping edge is presented to the surface being acted upon. This inclined edge is highly desirable in grading roads for crowning the road, in starting a trail in a hillside, and in other surfacing operations.

The present invention provides an angledozer blade frame mounting for carrying the angledozer blade in any one of a large number of tilted or cocked positions, thereby providing a very fine tilting adjustment for the blade.

The tilting blade mounting of this invention is small and compact, but it provides for a wide range of tilting or cocking of the blade, at least twelve inches of tilting being preferable. The blade frame, in accordance with this invention,

' is adjustably carried by push beam brackets which are pivotally mounted on the tractor about an axis in line with the oscillating points for the tractor track frames, so that no strain is imparted to the blade frame when the tractor track frames are oscillated relative to each other.

The blade frame is raised and lowered relative to the tractor by a winch-actuated cable. A twin winder drum winch is mounted on the rear end of the tractor. The cable passes through a tube overlying the tractor supported at its rear end by the upright frame and supported at its front end by a saddle or frame mounted on the front end of the tractor body. The saddle or frame carries a sheave receiving the cable from the tube. The blade frame has a cross beam in front of the tractor carrying a universal joint midway between the push beams of the frame. A rigid sheave carrying bar has one end thereof sup- 2 ported by a universal Joint and the other end thereof rotatably carrying a sheave for receiving the cable. The end of the cable is anchored to' the front saddle or frame. A leaf spring is provided for urging the bar into upright position so that the sheave on the bar will not become fouled when the cable is slack. The bar carries the sheave at a level above the top of the blade, so that this sheave can be brought into contact with the saddle-carried sheave when the blade is in maximum elevated position. The universal joint permits the bar-carried sheave to swing so that the sheave thereon will always be in direct alignment with the saddle-carried sheave.

It is, then, an object of this inventi n to provide a cable-actuated angledozer, bulldozer or the like scraper blade-equipped tractor with a tilting blade carrying frame for cocking the blade, and

- a cable sheave arrangement that always guides the cable for exerting a direct pull on the blade frame.

Specifically this invention relates to push beam brackets for bulldozers and the like which adjustably support push beams to cock or tilt the bulldozer blade throughout a wide range without presenting a cumbersome assembly.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide a tilting blade mounting for scraper blade-equipped tractors wherein stub shaft brackets are secured to the axle brackets of a tractor and pivotally support push beam brackets having upstanding arcuately grooved push beam receiving portions to adjustably carry push beams.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tilting frame mounting for tractorcarried blade frames which swings the frame about a central axis for cocking the blade in any one of a large number of closely spaced positions to provide a very fine adjustment for the blade.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the annexed sheets of drawings which, by way of a preferred eample, illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, witha part broken away and shown in vertical cross section, of a cable-actuated angledozer according to this invention.

Figure 2 is a rear end elevational view of the angle-dozer shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front end elevational view of the angledozer shown in Figure 1, with part of the blade broken away to show underlying parts.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, somewhat diagrammatic, rear end elevational view of the tilting blade mounting illustrating the blade in horizontal or uncocked position, and the self-aligning sheave in vertical position.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but illustrating the blade in cocked position, and showing how the self-aligning sheave remains in vertical position.

Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in elevation, taken substantially along the line VIVI of Figure 3.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view taken substantially along the line VII-VII of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with a part broken away and shown in vertical cross section, of the tilting mounting for the blade frame.

. Figure 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view, with parts in rear end elevation, taken along the line IX--IX of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken along the line X-X of Figure 8.

As shown on the drawings:

In Figures 1 to 3 inclusive the reference numeral l0 designates generally a tractor having a main body portion II, a tractor track frame l2 on each side of the body Ii, and track laying belts l3 trained between driven rear sprockets i4 and front idler wheels I5. Each sprocket I4 is rotatably mounted on a dead axle i6 which, as best shown in Figure 9, is surrounded by an axle bracket H to which the track frame I2 is bolted. The track frames l2 thereby oscillate about the dead axle IS.

A twin drum winch I8 is mounted on the rear end of the tractor body I I and has winder-drums [8a and lBb thereon in side by side relation. Handles H operate clutches and brakes for selectively driving and braking the winder drums 18a and Nb. Sheaves lSa and I9b are rotatably mounted in side by side relationship above the drums Mia and l8b respectively for selectively receiving a cable C from one of the drums.

A U-shaped blade-carrying frame 20 is provided for the angledozer blade B. This frame 20 has side push beam arms 20a. and a cross arm 2%, as best shown in Figures 1 and 6. The side arms 20a straddle the tracks 13 and the cross arm 201) extends across the front of the tractor body II.

The blade B is pivotally mounted midway between its ends on a vertical pin 2| which, as shown in Figure 6, is carried by a bracket 22 on the cross arm 2%. The blade B can thus be swung about a vertical axis into selected angledoze and bulldoze positions.

The ends of the blade B are pivotally connected on vertical pivot pins 23 to struts 24 which are adjustably anchored on the side push beam arms 2011 along the lengths of these arms by means of anchor pins 25. The struts hold the blade B in adjusted position on its center pivot 2|.

The axle brackets I! of the tractor, as best shown in Figure 9, have stub shaft brackets 23 bolted thereon by means of bolts 21. Each stub shaft bracket 23 has a stub shaft portion 26a projecting outwardly from the tractor in line with the dead axle l6. Push beam brackets 28 each have a cylindrical bearing portion 28a pivotally mounted on each stub shaft 26a, together with an arcuate upstanding flange portion 23b struck from a radius R centered on the axle mid- 4 point 0 of the tractor axles l8, as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The upstanding arcuate flange 28b has an arcuate groove 29 therein struck from a radius centered on the same center 0. This arcuate groove 29 has an open front face and open ends, but is closed at the inner end thereof by an abutment wall 30 as best shown in Figure 8. Webs 28c reinforce the abutment wall 30 and are connected to the cylindrical portion 28a of the bracket 28. The upstanding arcuate portion 28b, as best shown in Figures 1, 8 and 10, has a plurality of holes 3i therethrough spaced along the length thereof and intersecting the groove 29. The holes 3| are preferably arranged in groups near the top and bottom ends of the flange 28b. As shown, a pair of closely spaced holes 3| is provided adjacent the bottom end of the flange, while a second pair of holes 3i is provided adjacent the top end of the flange, for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

.The push beam arms 20a have upstanding arcuate flanges 32 integrally afllxed to the rear ends thereof. These flanges 32 are struck from the same radius as the groove 29'and are adapted to project into the groove to be fully bottomed on the abutment wall 30 as best shown in Figure 8. The flanges 32 are longer than the flanges 28b of the push beam brackets 28, but the open ends of the groove 29 permit the ends of the flanges to project from the grooves. The flanges 32 have holes 33 in closely spaced relation from the top to the bottom ends thereof. Two holes 33 of the flange 32 are adapted to be aligned with at least one hole of each pair of holes 3|. Locking pins 34 project through the aligned holes 3| and 33 for adjustably carrying the flanges 32 in the groove 29 of the bracket 28. These pins are conveniently secured in position by means of links 35 bolted on the outer faces of the flanges 281) by means of bolts 36. The links 35 have recessed free ends 35a extending into the grooves 34a provided on the pins 34. The bolts 36 can be removed to permit the links 35 to be withdrawn from the grooves 34a, and the pins 34 can then be readily pulled out of the holes for readjustment of the frame 20.

The pairs of holes 3! at the top and bottom ends of the flange 2812 make possible a further shifting of the flanges 32 to increase the range of adjustment since, in extreme lowered positions, the flanges 32 may be below the top holes 3| to have their top holes 33 aligned with the bottom hole of the top pair of holes 3|. Conversely, the flange 32, in extreme raised position, can have its bottom hole 33 aligned with the top hole 3| of the bottom pair of holes.

The frame 20, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, is tiited throughout a relatively wide range by selectively securing the flanges 32 of the push beams in the brackets 28. This tilting or cooking of the frame 20 in carrying the struts and pivot pin 2! therewith, of course, tilts the blade B throughout the same range. Since the tractor track frames [2 oscillate about the dead axle I5. and since the push beam brackets are pivoted c0- axially with this dead axle, the frame 20 is not subjected to any warping strains during independent oscillation of the tractor track frames, as when the tracks 13 move over uneven ground. At the same time, however, the frame 20 can be carried in the selected cooked or tilted position, and will remain in this position relative to the dead axle [6. Thus the frame 20 is adjustably cooked or tilted relative to the axis of the dead axle of the tractor but, when so adjusted, the

7 frame remains in the same angular relation relative to the dead axle and will carry the blade in response to the positions assumed by the dead axle in operation of the tractor.

The abutment wall 88 rigidly backs up all push loads on the frame 28 and the pins 88 only serve to lock the push beam flanges in adjusted relation relative to the push beam brackets.

The bracket 22 on the cross beam 2llb'of the frame 28 carries a universal-Joint 31 composed of upstanding ears 81a on the bracket 22, aflrst pin 81b pivoted in the ears 81a and pivotally carrying a joint member'flc which is pivoted by a second pin 81d to ears 8le on the lower end of a bar 38. The bar 88 can thus tilt in all directions relative to the frame 28, but is held against rotation relative to the frame.

A sheave frame 88 is secured on the upper end of the bar 88 and a pair of sheaves 40 is rotatably mounted in the frame 89 in side by side relation as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a leaf spring 4i is pivotally mounted for limited sidewise swinging movement on the cross beam 20b. The leaf spring 4| has a bottom end portion held against the vertical wall of the beam 20b by means of a bracket 42 bolted on the beam by means of bolts 43 and carrying a pivot pin 44 which projects through the spring and beam. The pin 44 is welded to the bracket 42. The bracket 42 has an offset portion 42a receiving the spring 4| therein and accommodating limited swinging movement of the spring.

The upper end of the spring 4| is embraced by a strap 45 secured on the bar 38 and having inner rocking faces 45a to accommodate rocking movements of the leaf spring 4| relative to the bar 38. The leaf spring H is slidable through the strap 45 and has a flange 4la on the free end thereof to prevent withdrawal of the spring from the strap.

As illustrated in Figure 6, the spring 4i urges the bar 38 into upright position toward the blade 13, but permits rearward swinging of the bar as shown in dotted lines. As shown in Figure 7, the pivotal mounting of the spring and the arcuate rocking faces 45a of the strap 45 permits the frame beam 20b to tilt without tilting the bar 38.

The bar 38 carries the sheaves 40 above the top of the blade B for a purpose to described. The top of the sheave frame 39 has an abutment block 39a secured thereon for a purpose to be more fully hereinafter described.

As best shown in Figures 1 and 3, the sides of the body I I have brackets 46 secured thereon near.

the front end of the body. These brackets carry pins 41. A U-shaped frame or saddle 50 has side arms 50a straddling the tractor body, and a cross arm 50b overlying the tractor body. The bottom ends of the arms 50a have flanges 5i secured thereon extending into the brackets 46 and pivotall y carried by the pins 41. Braces such as 52 are pivotally secured to brackets such as 53 on the side arms 50a and are anchored on the body ill rearwardly from the brackets 46 to holdthe saddle frame 50 in upright forwardly inclined position. v

A sheave block or frame 54 is fixedly carried by the cross arm 50b of the saddle frame 50 and projects forwardly of the tractor body as best shown in Figure 1. This sheave frame 54 rotatably supports a pair of sheaves 55 in side by side relation as shown in Figure 3. An abutment block 54a is provided at the bottom of the frame 54 for opposing the block 89a of the frame 39.

be hereinafter to a clamp 88 The cable 0 on the side of the sheave frame 84. The cable is trained from this anchor 88 around the first sheave 48 in the frame 38, thence around the first sheave 88 in the frame 84, next around the second sheave 48 in the frame 88, and thence around the second sheave 88 in the frame 84.

A tube 51 is pivoted at 88 to the cross arm 58b of the saddle frame 88 immediately behind the sheave frame 84 for receiving the cable from the second sheave 58. The rear end of the tube 81 is pivoted at 88 to a frame 68 which is pivoted at H to the winch l8. This frame 68 includes a pair of depending legs a which straddle the upper portion of the winch l8 to receive the pivots 8|. A reversible sub-frame 82 mounted on the frame 88 provides a universal mounting for an inclined sheave 88 permitting the cable C to be directed out of the rear end of the tube 51 to either sheave I8a or l8b of the winch assembly, depending upon whether the winder drum l8a or l8b of the winch is being used. This reversible universal mounting is desirable to permit changing from one winder drum to the other in the event of failure of operation of a drum.

The sheave arrangement is such that either the winder drum l8a or l8b will have a direct, unobstructed pull on the cable C which passes freely throughthe tube 51 and around the sheaves 85 and 4') to have a direct pull on the frame beam 20b. The bar 38 carrying the sheave frame 88 can tilt on its universal joint support so that the sheaves 40 will always be aligned with the sheaves 55 and the cable running between these sheaves 40 and 55 cannot become fouled. The abutment blocks 39a and 54a likewise will always be aligned and. in the-event the blade is raised to its maximum height, no damage-will be done to the sheaves because the abutment blocks will be the first members to come together.

The sheaves 40 will not get fouled behind the blade B because the bar 38 carries these sheaves at a level above the top of the blade. When the cable is slack, the spring ll wil1 hold the bar 38 in upright position to prevent fouling of the cable runs. The spring, however, will flex to permit fore and aft movement of the sheave frame 38 such as occurs during raising and lowering of the frame 20.

From the above descriptions it will be understood that this invention provides a cable-actuated scraper blade assembly on a tractor or the like wherein the blade can be cocked relative to the tractor without straining any of the parts and wherein the cable is so guided as to have a direct pull on the blade.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a tractor having a body, a dead axle, axle brackets, and track frames secured to said brackets, a stub shaft bracket secured to said axle brackets and having the stub shaft portions thereof coaxial with the dead axle, push beam brackets each having a bearing portion pivoted on the stub shaft and an upstanding arcuately grooved portion with locking pin holes at spaced intervals along the length thereof, push beams having upstanding arcuate flanges on their rear ends adapted to be seated in said grooves, said flanges having locking pin holes along the length thereof, a blade extending across the front of the tractor carried by said push beams, and locking pins extending through mating holes of the flanges and push beam brackets for securing the push beams in selected positions in the brackets to carry the blade in' 8 hasthefreeendthereofanchored- 7 desired parallel or tilted relation relative to the dead axle of the tractor.

2. In combination with a tractor having a dead axle, axle brackets pivoted on the dead axle, track frames secured on said brackets, a stub shaft bracket secured to each axle bracket and having the stub shaft portion thereof coaxial with the dead axle, push beam brackets each having a bearing portion pivoted on the stub shaft and an upstanding push beam receiving portion, push beams having ends mating with said upstanding receiving portions irrespective of the relative levels of the ends, a blade carried by said push beams, and means securing the ends of said push beams in selected relation to said upstanding receiving portion of the push beam brackets for carrying the blade in desired parallel or cocked relation relative to the dead axle.

3. In combination with a tractor having a dead axle and track frame oscillated about said dead axle, push beam brackets secured on said tractor having stub shafts coaxial with said dead axle, a rigid frame having push beams straddling said track frames, upstanding end flanges on said push beams constructed and arranged to mate with said brackets at variable relative levels of the flanges without warping the rigid frame, a blade carried across the front of the tractor by said frame, and means selectively connecting said push beams with said brackets to carry the blade in desired inclined or parallel relation to the dead axle.

4. A tilting blade mounting for scraper bladeequipped machines which comprises brackets adapted to be fixedly connected to the machine and having stub shafts extending outwardly therefrom, push beam brackets pivoted on said stub shafts, and upstanding arcuate push beam receiving portions on said push beam brackets for carrying the ends of the push beams in selected positions for laterally tilting a blade carried by the push beams, said arcuate push beam receiving portions being struck from radii centered on a tilting axis for the blade to mate with the push beam ends in all selected positions.

5. A tilting blade mounting for scraper equipped tractors and the like machines which comprises brackets fixedly attachable to said machines having stub shafts projecting outwardly therefrom, push beam brackets pivoted on said stub shafts having arcuate upstanding push beam receiving grooves, scraper carrying push beams having arcuate upstanding rear end portions adjustably mounted in said receiving grooves of said push beam brackets to carry the scraper in desired tilted positions, and said arcuate grooves and end portions being struck from radii centered on the tilting axis of the scraper to accommodate the various desired tilted positions of the scraper without binding.

6. A tilting blade mounting for an angledozer carried by a tractor having a, dead axle which comprises a pair of brackets secured to opposite sides of the tractor and each having a stub shaft projecting laterally from the tractor in coaxial alignment with the dead axle, push beam brackets pivoted on the stub shafts having upstanding mounting portions, an angledozer frame having side push beams straddling the tractor and detachably secured to the mounting portions of the push beam brackets, an angledozer blade, a vertical pivot connecting said blade with said frame, and means including mating arcuate members struck from radii centered on an axis of tilt for adjustably shifting the push beams relative to the push beam brackets for tilting the angledozer frame and the vertical pivot for the angledozer blade relative to the dead axle of the tractor for selectively inclining the blade to present an inclined cutting edge.

7. A mounting for tractor carried implement blades which comprises a bracket having a portion adapted to be fixedly attached to a tractor and a stub shaft projecting outwardly therefrom, a push beam bracket pivoted on said stub shaft and having an upstanding arcuately grooved portion, an arcuate push beam flange adapted to be seated in the groove of said bracket portion, said bracket portion and arcuate flange having a plurality of holes therethrough adapted to be selectively aligned, locking pins seatable in said holes, said pins having grooves therearound adjacent the outer ends thereof, links having recesses receiving the grooved portions of said locking pins, and bolts connecting said links to said push beam bracket for securing the locking pins in position.

8. A tilting implement blade mounting for tractors and the like machines which comprises a stub shaft bracket adapted to be fixedly secured to a tractor or the like, a, push beam bracket pivoted on the stub shaft and having an elongated grooved portion with a plurality of locking pin holes along the length thereof, a push beam flange seatable in the groove of said grooved portion against the bottom of the groove and ha ing a plurality of locking pin holes along the length thereof, and locking pins selectively seaable in aligned holes of said push beam bracket and flange for carrying the flange at selected levels relative to the push beam bracket.

9. In combination with a tractor, a pair of stub shaft brackets secured to the tractor and having stub shafts projecting laterally from the tractor, push beam brackets pivoted on the stub shafts, an implement blade frame having side push beams straddling the tractor, flanges on said push beams selectively attachable to said push beam brackets, said flanges and said push beam brackets having interfltting arcuate portions struck from radii centered on the longitudinal central axis of the tractor, and means selectively attaching said flanges and push beam brackets to tilt the frame for carrying the implement blade to Present an inclined scraping edge.

10. A tilting blade mounting for tractor carried implement blades which comprises a stub shaft bracket fixedly attachable to a tractor in coaxial alignment with the dead axle shaft of the tractor,

a push beam bracket pivoted on the stub shaft having an upstanding arcuate grooved poztion struck from a radius centered on the central longitudinal axis of the tractor, a push beam having an arcuate flange projecting into a groove of said push beam bracket to be bottomed against the bottom of said groove, said flange having a plurality of closely spaced holes therethrough, said arcuately grooved portion of the push beam bracket having at least one hole adapted to be selectively aligned with the holes in said push beam flange, and a locking pin insertable through the aligned holes of the push beam bracket and flange for securing the push beam to the push beam bracket.

11. A tilting blade mounting for scraper bladeequipped machines which comprises brackets adapted to be fixedly connected to the machine and having stub shafts extending outwardly therefrom, .push beam brackets pivoted on said stub shafts, and a plurality of arcuate push beam receiving portions on said push beam brackets for 12. In combination with a tractor. a blade attaching the side arms to the tractor in selected 7 positions to tilt the frame in either direction in 1 a plurality of selected tilted positions.

13. In combination with a vehicle having a U-:

3 frame on the vehicle for laterally tilting the frame relative to the vehicle, a universal joint mounted 9 frame having side arms and arcuate means struck from radii centered on a common tilting axis for justably mounting the ends of the sides of the '1 on the frame at the central portion of the 6011- I necting portion thereof, a bar extending upwardly from said universal joint to a level above the top of the frame, and a cable operatively connected to the upper end of said bar and attached to said 7 Vehicle for raising and lowering the frame about the pivots whereby said cable will always have a;

direct pull on said bar irrespective of the tilted position of the frame.

HARRY a. wssrmorm." 1

10 jnmnrmcns crrnn The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNdTED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,081,939 LeTourneau June 1, 1937 2,084,690 :Knapp June 22, 1937 2,089,485 Knapp Aug. 10, 1987 2,136,551 Knapp Nov. 15, 1938 2,159,348 Austin May 23. 1939 2,169,606 Hutchlns et al Aug. 15, 1939 2,178,280 ,[Hutchins et a1 Oct. 31, 1939 2,182,412 ,S tewart Dec. 5, 1939 2,215,025 Austin Sept. 17, 1940 2,256,982 'Lawler Sept. 23, 1941 2,275,390 'ijawler Mar. 3, 1942 2,304,075 ",Pavidson et al Dec. 8, 1942 2,335,851 -i 'ox et al Dec. 7, 1943 2,344,417 Schmidt et al Mar. 14, 1944 2,347,290 Schaefler Apr. 25, 1944 2,365,677 ,Burns Dec. 26, 1944 2,408,268 Peterson et al Sept. 24, 1946 2,451,348

Miller Oct. 12, 1948 

